Never Ending Dance
Paige had thought it'd be a fun idea for Happy to dance with Ralph. Ralph hadn't seemed to enthused about it and neither had Happy. Yet somehow Happy found herself standing awkwardly on the little dance floor at the little boy's school's Halloween party that the whole Scorpion team had been convinced to go to.
Happy had not been thrilled at the notion at first when Walter proposed it. But when he'd argued that it was for Ralph. Happy couldn't help but agree to go just like the rest of the team had. They'd all put aside their own feelings towards the holiday and gotten dressed up to accompany the nine year old to the party. As a last minute costume Happy had simply drawn cat whiskers on her face. Hoping that her regular clothes could pass for a cat like costume. Clearly according to Toby it worked. Toby and Sylvester were the two out of the team who didn't seemed bothered about having to get dressed up. Sly was all for dressing up as Super Fun Guy, something Happy did not understand. It was for Ralph though, and they all loved Ralph. It surprised her a little with how quickly they all had bonded with the young boy. But then again he was just like them by being a genius. That was probably why Happy hadn't flat out refused when Paige had suggested that Ralph and Happy dance.
It was a little awkward; Happy wasn't one for dancing and well to be honest the wonderful costume the team had gotten for Ralph was a little tricky to dance around, but Ralph and Happy were managing so far. She had spent a moment wondering why she had to be the one subjected to dancing with Ralph but quickly picked up Paige trying to coax Walter into dancing. Now that was something Happy would bet on never happening. The likelihood on Walter dancing was slim to none. Happy had been distracted, focused on watching Paige dancing while trying to get Walter to join her, that she hadn't noticed Toby walk up to where Ralph and Happy were.
The behaviourist quickly gained Happy's attention when he touched Happy's arm lightly.
"Hey Ralph, mind if I cut in?" Toby asked smiling at the boy.
Ralph looked up at Toby then looked to Happy and nodded his head and moved aside. Happy frowned for the slightest moment, but she gave a small smile watching as Ralph went to Sylvester who was entertaining a couple of other children with his Super Fun Guy costume.
Toby's hand that had been on Happy's arm trailed down the length of her arm lightly until he reached her hand where he held onto it and turned her body so she was facing him. Happy looked at him displeased, continuing to stare at him while he wrapped an arm around her waist. Toby was dressed as Sigmund Freud, or as he liked to call it a hack.
"What are you doing, doc?" She asked with only a hint of annoyance in her voice.
He smiled at her, "dancing. What does it look like?" He replied.
Happy glared at him. She was not in the mood for Toby's smart ass behaviour. Toby looked around and pulled Happy in closer, "I did not like the look that one of the single dad's was giving you." Toby said quietly speaking into her ear.
She moved back an inch to look at Toby. Her annoyance plain on her face for anyone to see.
Shaking his head Toby sighed. He knew how Happy was. It was a well known fact that Happy didn't need to be protected and coddled, she could handle herself. She had hit a Marine once and gotten away with it so of course she could take whatever -if anything did come from one look across a room from a single man. There was just something that had unsettled Toby about it and made him feel an urge and need to protect Happy from whatever the aftermath could have been. He noticed Happy still looking at him and he wondered if she was waiting for any further explanation. As he surprisingly successfully twirled her around, Toby dared a glance at the man he'd noticed watching Happy. Just like he'd predicted the man was still watching but now with a distaste in his expression. Toby caught the man's eye for a second and received a glare in return.
"Predatory." Toby blurted out as he spun Happy back around.
"What?" Happy asked confused looking at Toby.
"The single father." Toby clarified. Happy continued to stare at him waiting for him to go on because when did Toby stop with a simple explanation. Toby leaned in closer to Happy again nearly pressing his lips against her ear as he spoke. It was strategy for in case the man knew how to read lips, but also something Toby didn't mind having to do. Happy had nice hair and it smelled nice too. "He's watching you with a predatory gaze. His body language reads hostile aggression with a hint of possessiveness. Appears to be the type who when he sees something he likes he must have it. Not something I'm sure you couldn't handle, but why ruin Ralph's party?" He explained.
For a moment Happy's shoulders tensed but slowly they began to relax again. Toby had a point. "So you decided the best way to avoid that was" Happy was saying before Toby cut her off.
"Is to make him believe we're a couple." Toby stated and smiled at her. Happy rolled her eyes. "Based on his reaction so far he's taken the hint. Happy, two overly aggressive and angry people at a children's school party and interacting does not sound like a good time." He told her looking at her trying to sway her to his side. "It's a convincing plan, we arrived together and now we're dancing together. It doesn't take a genius to put that together." He continued to say. As Toby spoke Happy felt the faint feeling of his hand sliding down her back.
"If you're hand gets any lower, you won't be having a good time no matter how your plan turns out." Happy warned, glaring at him from underneath her eyelashes.
She felt Toby's hand return to the small of her back almost instantly which she gave a small smirk at.
Toby breathed under his breath, "still hot."
Happy glanced up at him and found Toby staring down at her. His hand that was holding onto hers had tightened and once again the arm holding her around her waist pulled her closer towards his chest. She wanted to make a remark back to his comment but she couldn't find the words. From where Happy was standing it seemed like the single father Toby was talking about wasn't the only one in the room who was being a little predatory that night.
"How long?" Happy asked after a second of silence had passed where they just danced together.
Toby hummed in acknowledgment of her question though he didn't fully understand it. Frowning for a split second Happy sighed and forced herself to look less like she'd rather be elsewhere. "How long do we have to keep up this facade?" Happy asked trying to bite off the angry tone in her voice.
Toby glanced around the room. He'd lost sight of the single father who'd been eyeing Happy. There were two answers Toby could give Happy, they could quit the act now while he was gone or just for safety's sake they could carry on with it.
Happy seemed to pick up on the second option. She frowned and tried to move away from the behaviourist, "please don't tell me I have to dance with you all night." She commented unhappily.
"Not dance." Toby replied lightly trying to get a smile out of her. Happy looked at him unimpressed. She would have loved to be able to stop dancing and go back to the garage to work on something. The urge to hit something with a hammer became the focus of Happy's thoughts.
"You didn't think this plan out completely." Happy stated as she moved her feet around on the dance floor along with Toby's. The thought of stepping on one of his feet out of annoyance and passing it off as an accident crossed her mind.
"I admit, it is still a work in progress" Toby agreed making a face. Happy had to resist the urge to roll her eyes at him. "But I think it is going well." He carried on smiling down at Happy.
Frowning, "I've a theory on what makes you say that." She commented. Toby looked at her curiously daring her to continue. "It involves that this gives you an excuse to have your hands on me."
"There's a chance that you may be correct." Toby admitted.
"Willing to bet on it?" Happy challenged. Toby laughed smirking at the mechanical genius's challenge. "This scheme of yours isn't needed." Happy stated after he never answered.
"Happy, please, trust me on this one." Toby insisted catching her eye. He held her gaze as they stood on the dance floor the dance stopping. "The guy's a sleaze bag." He stated. "He scoped out every woman in this room until he laid eyes on you. I did say your costume was hot. Since then he's been watching with a possessive look in his eyes and a combative stance. Happy, you deserve someone better." Toby clarified.
"Someone like you?" Happy nonchalantly suggested.
Toby stared at her shocked at what he'd heard her just say. Surely he had not just heard Happy say that. He must have entered some kind of alternate reality or had this all just been a dream? The thought of pinching himself crossed his mind. "I-" Toby was about to reply when he noticed that the single father had returned. The man was looking around the room and Toby assumed it was for one particular dark haired beautiful woman dressed as a cat that stood before him. Panic shot through Toby, he considered if that was how Sylvester felt all the time. Of course Toby knew being a doctor and all. Instinct took over before Toby clearly thought through what he was about to do. His mind short circuited. Pulling Happy towards him, close to his chest, he looked down at her.
Happy was staring up at him confused concern in her expression. "What are you doing?" She asked the fearful worry leaking into her voice.
He didn't know how to explain it, "Trust me." Was all he said before moving his hand up her back and leaned her back dipping her. Happy having no clue what to expect cried out in shock and clung onto Toby's arm trying to reassure herself there was no way he'd drop her. He had her braced by her waist but still she didn't trust it. She growled out his name through clenched teeth glaring at him.
Toby smirked down at her when he looked down at her. He was proud with his decision. Maybe his brain short circuiting had been a good thing. Now the only problem he had was fearing Happy trying to kill him once he let her go.
Across the dance floor Paige was still trying to get Walter to dance. She had achieved it somewhat. If managing to get him to move his arms along with hers as she danced oddly to the music with an uncooperative dance partner. Writing Walter off as a lost cause for dancing, she looked back to the dance floor searching for her son. She spotted the only child dressed as a brain with Sylvester. They seemed to be enjoying themselves as they discussed something though it appeared that Sylvester was doing most of the talking.
Paige wondered where Happy had gone. Satisfied with where her son was Paige glanced around the party searching for the other genius. It had been the cry of surprise that had drawn Paige's eyes towards where the mechanical genius was, too Paige's surprise, she found her in the arms of the behaviourist. Honestly though Paige wasn't all that shocked. Based on Toby's early comment alone the fact that Happy and Toby were dancing didn't completely surprise her. She did however want to make sure she wasn't seeing things. "Walter," Paige said turning back to the genius who'd refuse to dance with her. He'd hummed in response. "Are Happy and Toby actually dancing together or am I imagining that?" Paige asked looking back to the dance floor. When she first saw them Toby had Happy dipped just hovering over the ground now he had upright again and was holding her close.
Walter looked at the scene before him and nodded. "They do appear to be dancing." He agreed though he wasn't sure why it was important.
Paige smiled to herself and gave a little nod, "good." She was happy for them even it turned out just to be a dance. Looking away she noticed that Walter looked both uncomfortable and unhappy. "Let's get Ralph." Paige suggested. Walter nodded in agreement and they went in the direction of the nine-year-old and Sylvester.
"I hate you." Happy said once Toby had pulled her back up right. He was now holding her both arms wrapped around her back.
Toby chuckled smiling at her, "no you don't." Happy frowned at him and stepped on his foot. Now she didn't feel bad about it at all. "Oh, my foot." Toby complained fighting off the grin on his face.
Happy frowned at him fighting with herself not to smile. "You know, it is my diagnoses, that you are actually enjoying yourself." Toby said leaning to speak into her ear again.
Happy stared ahead of her and made no comment for a reply. She was tempted to tell him to shut up but the words wouldn't leave her mouth. There was a light warm pressure against the curve of her ear and she looked up at Toby eyes wide. He smiled at her in return. Happy didn't know how to completely process all that was going on. The world was spinning. No literally, her head felt dizzy. Too much dancing and spinning in the same pattern. So she said the first thing that came into her mind, "do you have an ear fetish or something?"
Toby smiled down at her in the form of a reply.
There was a tug at the sleeve of Toby's jacket. He stepped back from Happy and looked to where the source of the tug had been. Ralph was standing near them and beyond him was Sylvester, Paige and Walter. They were lingering, as if they had been waiting for the other two geniuses.
Walter cleared his throat, and Toby backed away from Happy finally removing his hands from Happy's waist.
"We were going to eat," Paige stated realizing she had to be the one to break the ice that had formed around the situation. "Will you two join us?"
"Of course we will!" Toby declared smiling down at Ralph. Happy nodded her head slightly while scanning her eyes over them all. What she was looking for she wasn't sure. Apart of her was waiting for one of the team member's to comment on how close she and Toby had been or for how long they'd been dancing.
"Great." Paige said smiling at them. Ralph went over to Walter and took a hold of his hand and they headed for the door. The rest of the team followed after the pair.
Toby easily slipped beside Happy walking next to her. "So," he began to say.
"I don't want to talk about it." She snapped walking ahead of him.
"Alright." Toby said walking behind her, sticking his hands in his pockets.
So this fic would obviously take place after the episode True Colors. I thought it was pretty cute idea so I went with it and wrote it. Please let know what you think! There is another chapter that is kind of like an alternate ending for it that's coming up as well.
Sorry if any of them are off character. This is the first time I've written any of the other members of the team. Also I don't own anything I'm just amused by writing with these two characters and this show. So yeah! Please let me know what you thought of this and then I'll get around to the second chapter that I'm just holding hostage. :) -H.R
